Marvin Isley, Bassist in Isley Brothers, Is Dead at 56 - The New York Times The New York Times Music |Marvin Isley, Bassist in Isley Brothers, Dies at 56 Search Continue reading the main story Marvin Isley, a bassist who provided the foundation for his family’s hit-making R&B band, the Isley Brothers, died on Sunday at a hospice near his home in Chicago. He was 56. The cause was diabetes, said Chris Jasper, a brother-in-law who was the Isley Brothers’ keyboard player for many years. Marvin Isley had fought diabetes for more than 20 years and in 1997 lost his legs to the disease. The band had two distinct phases. The first, in the late 1950s and early ’60s, was as a vocal group made up of the three older brothers: Ronald, as the booming lead singer, and O’Kelly and Rudolph as backup. Then in 1973, Marvin Isley, Ernie Isley, a guitarist, and their cousin Chris joined the group. It was the start of the band’s greatest run of hits.

From 1975 to 1980, the Isley Brothers had 14 Top 10 R&B records, including “Fight the Power Part 1,” “Harvest for the World,” and “Livin’ in the Life.” Photo The Isley Brothers in the 1970s. Marvin Isley is third from left. Credit TNECK In 1984, Marvin, Ernie and Chris split from the older brothers and formed their own group, Isley Jasper Isley, and in 1985 had a No. 1 R&B hit, the gospel-inspired “Caravan of Love.” Marvin Isley was born in Cincinnati on Aug. 18, 1953, the youngest son of O’Kelly and Sally Isley. He graduated from C. W. Post College on Long Island in 1976, with a degree in music. Besides his brothers Ernie, Ronald and Rudolph, he is survived by his wife, the former Sheila Felton; a son, Corey; and two daughters, Sidney and Jalen.

Advertisement Continue reading the main story “The Isley Brothers are shockingly underappreciated,” said Howard Kramer, the curatorial director of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. “When Marvin was in the band they were played on white rock ’n’ roll stations, right next to the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, and their records are every bit as good.” Correction: June 10, 2010 An obituary on Tuesday about Marvin Isley, the bassist for the Isley Brothers, misstated his relationship to Chris Jasper, the band’s keyboardist. Mr. Jasper was Mr. Isley’s brother-in-law, not his cousin. A version of this article appears in print on June 8, 2010, on Page B15 of the New York edition with the headline: Marvin Isley, 56, Bassist in Isley Brothers.

Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe Marvin Isley Obituary | Marvin Isley Funeral | Legacy.com Marvin Isley Obituary 8/18/1953 - 6/6/2010| Visit Guest Book Marvin Isley (AP Photo) CHICAGO (AP) - Marvin Isley, the bass player who helped give R&B powerhouse the Isley Brothers their distinctive sound, has died at a Chicago hospital. He was 56. Isley died Sunday morning at an inpatient hospice at Weiss Memorial Hospital, according to hospital spokeswoman Catherine Gianaro. She could not confirm a cause of death. Isley stopped performing in 1996 after suffering complications from diabetes that included a stroke, high blood pressure, the loss of both legs and use of his left hand. He joined his brothers' band in 1973. By that time, the Isley Brothers had established themselves with hits like 1959's "Shout," which sold more than 1 million records. Isley splintered off to form Isley-Jasper-Isley in the 1980s and returned to the Isley Brothers in the 1990s.

The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and their career has spanned six decades. At one point there were five Isley brothers in the group, including Marvin. Today, only Ronald Isley is touring full time after a three-year stint in federal prison for tax evasion. The group's hits included "Twist and Shout," later recorded by The Beatles, "Love The One You're With," and the Grammy-winning 1969 smash, "It's Your Thing." In a 2001 interview, Marvin Isley told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he regretted spending decades ignoring his diabetes. "If I would have listened, if I would have understood diabetes like I understood music, maybe these things wouldn't have happened," Isley said at the time. In 2000, he settled a lawsuit against his older siblings stemming from a dispute over money from the estate of his deceased older brother, O'Kelly Isley, and from a $7 million plagiarism award against Michael Bolton relating to the group's 1966 song "Love Is A Wonderful Thing." Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press Marvin Isley (AP Photo) CHICAGO (AP) - Marvin Isley, the bass player who helped give R&B powerhouse the Isley Brothers their distinctive sound, has died at a Chicago hospital. He was 56. Isley died Sunday morning at an inpatient hospice at Weiss Memorial Hospital, according to hospital spokeswoman Catherine Gianaro. She could not confirm a cause of death. Isley stopped performing in 1996 after suffering complications from diabetes that included a stroke, high blood pressure, the loss of both legs and use of his left hand. He joined his brothers' band in 1973. By that time, the Isley Brothers had established themselves with hits like 1959's "Shout," which sold more than 1 million records. Isley splintered off to form Isley-Jasper-Isley in the 1980s and returned to the Isley Brothers in the 1990s. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and their career has spanned six decades.

At one point there were five Isley brothers in the group, including Marvin. Today, only Ronald Isley is touring full time after a three-year stint in federal prison for tax evasion. The group's hits included "Twist and Shout," later recorded by The Beatles, "Love The One You're With," and the Grammy-winning 1969 smash, "It's Your Thing." In a 2001 interview, Marvin Isley told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he regretted spending decades ignoring his diabetes. "If I would have listened, if I would have understood diabetes like I understood music, maybe these things wouldn't have happened," Isley said at the time. In 2000, he settled a lawsuit against his older siblings stemming from a dispute over money from the estate of his deceased older brother, O'Kelly Isley, and from a $7 million plagiarism award against Michael Bolton relating to the group's 1966 song "Love Is A Wonderful Thing." Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press the Isley Brothers | American music group | Britannica.com American music group Marvin Isley The Isley Brothers, American rhythm-and-blues and rock band that began recording in the late 1950s and continued to have hit records in the ’60s and ’70s. The original members were Kelly Isley (byname of O’Kelly Isley, Jr.; b. December 25, 1937, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.—d. March 31, 1986), Rudolph Isley (b. April 1, 1939, Cincinnati), and Ronald Isley (b. May 21, 1941, Cincinnati). Later members included Ernie Isley (b. March 7, 1952, Cincinnati), Marvin Isley (b. August 18, 1953, Cincinnati—d. June 6, 2010, Chicago, Illinois), and Chris Jasper (b. December 30, 1951, Cincinnati). The Isley Brothers, 1964.

Chris Ware—Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images After performing gospel music with their mother in and around their native Cincinnati , Kelly, Rudolph, and Ronald Isley gained pop recognition in 1959 with their composition “Shout.” In 1962 the trio’s rollicking cover version of the Top Notes’ “ Twist and Shout” remained on Billboard’s pop chart for 11 weeks. The Isleys began their own record company, T-Neck Records, in 1964, shortly thereafter recruiting budding guitarist Jimi Hendrix for their band. They abandoned T-Neck and signed with Motown in 1965. The group had a hit a year later with “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You).” The Isleys’ sound was rawer than standard-issue Motown, however, and they restarted T-Neck in 1969, developing an increasingly funky fusion of rock and soul , most notably on “It’s Your Thing” (1969).

Joined by younger brothers Ernie and Marvin and brother-in-law Chris Jasper in 1973, the Isleys scored hits with “That Lady (Part 1)” (1973), “Fight the Power (Part 1)” (1975), and “For the Love of You (Part 1 and 2)” (1975). In 1992 the Isley Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Learn More in these related articles: The Isley Brothers featuring Mr. Bigg a.k.a. Ron I on PureVolume Billboard THE ISLEY BROTHERS BIO Clad in jeans and a checkered shirt, Ron Isley is warming up at the mike at The Henry Fonda Theater in Los Angeles. Its a few hours before showtime: Rons riffing and its one of those trademark vocal runs that have been seducing women and setting guys up for the seduction for decades of baby-makin music. Fast forward and its showtime. Ron, now fitted out in a pale mauve suit hits the stage before a rapturous audience.

Between The Sheets is the perfect opener, Ron giving the crowd his smooth, soulful best while brother Ernie, looking ever mysteriously hip and cool he lays down those mean guitar licks. Midway through the set, he delivers the Isley baby-makin classic For The Love Of You: women call out, the fellas nod approval, everyone is singing along. Later in the show, Ron leaves the stage for a brief outfit change. His musical alter ego, Mr. Biggs returns in a bright red suit, gangster lean, hat to the side. Its on BABY MAKIN' MUSIC, , a natural title for a new album by The Isley Brothers featuring Ron Isley aka Mr. Biggs For, in the annals of contemporary music, few groups or artists can lay claim to creating as many slow jams and bedroom classics, classics that set the perfect right mood for romance leading to seduction, seduction leading to passion and, yes, in more than one instance, passion as a prelude to a rise in the birth rate!

Yes, weve been making baby-makin music for quite a while, Ron grins with confidence, aware that his smooth-yet-soulful vocal style has brought pleasure to millions of music lovers for five decades now. The Isleys catalog, filled with funky grooves like Its Your Thing, Fight The Power and Take Me To The Next Phase is also rich with eternal love songs like In Between The Sheets, For The Love Of You, Summer Breeze, Smooth Sailin Tonight, Voyage To Atlantis and in more recent times, Floatin On Your Love, the 2001 pop/R&B smash Contagious. And for good measure, theres Rons now-firmly established musical character Mr. Biggs offering Down Low (Nobody Has To Know), the 1996 hit collaboration with R. Kelly, showing another side of love, the lyrical subject matter for more than a few Isley standards Now comes BABY MAKIN MUSIC, the teams first CD for Def Soul, following in the tradition of great Isley Brothers records, filled with new love odes, hit cuts and future classics.

From the albums first single, the inviting, instantly memorable Just Came Here To Chill - a tune Ron says sounds like vintage Isley Brothers - written and produced by Troy Taylor (known for his work with Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston and Yolanda Adams among others) and Gordon Chambers (Grammy-award winning writer for Anita Baker and producer for Aretha Franklin, Brandy and others) to the insistent Blast Off, a new duet between Mr. Biggs and R. Kelly, completed just weeks before the albums release, BABY MAKIN MUSIC continues the Isleys legacy without missing a beat. The first Isleys Brothers album since 2003s gold Body Kiss set and Rons own 2003 solo album, Isley Meets Bacharach (a critically-acclaimed masterful collaboration with the legendary producer, songwriter, arranger and conductor), BABY MAKIN MUSIC begins the groups incredible sixth decade in the music industry. Its our sound with an updated twist, Ron comments. Were always looking at new ways of interpreting love songs. On this album, I was introduced to some producers and writers who wrote material especially for me.

Id never worked with (producer) Jermaine Dupri before and I was anxious to do that. He did three songs: the first one he played me I liked right away and that was Gotta Be With You which tells the story of a guy whos been in the game for a while. Then he also did Beautiful and Forever Mackin, which is perfect for Mr. Biggs! The tough image associated with Biggs, Rons musical alter-ego is just a part of me, he smiles. I got the name from the younger artists telling me, hey, youre the man! Its not so much that Im playing a gangstermore a musical godfather! Producers Tim & Bob (masterminds behind R&B sensation Bobby Valentino) wrote and produced the infectious Youre My Star which features a sample of The Makings Of You, the perennial 1974 recording by Gladys Knight & The Pips penned by the late great Curtis Mayfield as well as Pretty Woman, which features Rons wife Kandy on background vocals and brother Ernie adding his famed guitar licks to the track.

Ernie can also be heard on Heaven Hooked Us Up (produced by Troy Taylor and Zeke Lewis) one of the standout ballads on BABY MAKIN MUSIC, which Ron says is dedicated to Kandy because she is like a true blessing in my life. Ron explains that hed worked with producer Taylor on a duet with Patti Labelle (Gotta Go Solo) a few years back: When he heard about Kandy and I getting married, he wrote Heaven Hooked Us Up and then You Help Me Write This Song, which is like the follow-up to it. It reminds me of our wedding, that first dance with Kandy at the wedding I like to tell her she made me give up being a playa! Rounding out BABY MAKIN MUSIC are two special cuts from Manuel Seal, Jr., (co-producer of Mariah Careys smash We Belong Together and Ushers smash hit, My Boo with Alicia Keys): the slow-buidling Show Me is real baby-makin music! Ron grins, tasteful but explicit!

In the same vein, as its title implies, Give It To You gets straight to the point: Id say its a 2006 version of Between The Sheets, a song about a guy who didnt get the chance to make love with his woman the last time they were together, Ron adds. When they do, well, you can imagine the rest. BABY MAKIN MUSIC continues the unparalleled history of a group whose name has appeared on the charts for each of the last five decades, a feat achieved by no other family team in music history. The name Isley first graced the Top 50 in 1959 with Shout, four years after the group was formed in Cincinatti, Ohio. The original recording lineup included Ronald and older brothers OKelly and Rudolph (a fourth brother, Vernon, died in the 50s). The 60s began with another anthem, 1962s Twist And Shout. The Isleys went on to score with This Old Heart Of Mine (1966, their first Tamla/Motown hit), and the massive, now classic Its Your Thing.

The R&B Grammy Award-winning #1 R&B/ #2 pop hit single launched their self-owned T-Neck label in 1969, and introduced younger brothers Ernie and Marvin and in-law Chris Jasper into the lineup. The labels first release, Testify, featured Ernie Isleys protg, a young man by the name of Jimi Hendrix. T-Neck went on to chart more than 20 pop titles in the 70s (and nearly twice that many on the R&B side), a litany of hits that included Stephen Stills Love The One Youre With, Spill The Wine (originally recorded by Eric Burdon & War), That Lady, Seals & Crofts Summer Breeze, the message-driven Harvest For The World, funky groove Fight The Power Part 1, classic slow jam For the Love Of You, The Pride, Take Me To the Next Phase, and I Wanna Be With You, among the groups many hit singles.

From 1973 to 1980, the group scored an amazing two gold and five platinum albums (starting with the groundbreaking 3+3) and the platinum run continued in the 80s with Go All The Way and Between The Sheets, like five of their predecessors, No. 1 R&B chart-topping albums. The 80s also included hit singles Dont Say Goodnight (Its Time For Love) and Hurry Up And Wait, followed by Inside You and Smooth Sailin Tonight. In 1986, OKelly passed away, and Rudolph subsequently retired to the ministry. The Isley Brothers Featuring Ronald Isley returned in 1990, and all six members were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame two years later. The 90s were marked by a number of collaborations with Angela Winbush (Lay Your Troubles Down), Bobby Womack (Trying Not To Break Down), Quincy Jones (on his Qs Jook Joint album, 1995), and the #1 R&B/ #4 Pop smash of 1996, Down Low (Nobody Has To Know) with R.

Kelly and Def Soul label mate and former background singer Kelly Price. With the new millennium, came Ronalds discovery of the famed vocal duo, JS, in 2003. 1996 also brought the Isley Brothers Ronald, Marvin and Ernie to Island Records for the first time, on Mission To Please. Contributing as producers and co-writers were Babyface, R. Kelly and Keith Sweat, three of the many artists whose lives and music were inspired by the Isley Brothers, whose lineup now comprises Ronald and Ernie, an accomplished songwriter, guitarist and vocalist in his own right. In 2001, signed to Dreamworks Records, the Isleys returned to the charts with the hit album Eternal, featuring the crossover smash Contagious, written and produced by R. Kelly and signaling the arrival of Mr. Biggs, Rons now-famous alter-ego. Two years later, Body Kiss (another collaboration with Kelly) achieved gold status for the Isleys and also in 2003, the group won an American Music Award for Favorite Band, Duo or Group.

1996 recipients of a Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award, The Isleys received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual BET Awards gala in 2004. The same year, Ron suffered a mild stroke and after taking some time off, he began workin on tracks for BABY MAKIN' MUSIC. "It was a little hard after tge stroke because I felt I had to prove myself again," he reflects. "I took a year off and I didn't run through making an album like I used to. But once we got started with "Gotta Give It To You," we were right back in teh groove. And working with (Island/Def Jam CEO) L.A. Reid has been really great because I don't have to worry. I know I'm working with someone who understands what I do..." Feeling that the Isley Brothers are finally getting their due recognition for decades of great music, Ron says he still finds it hard to believe how so many of the groups classics are constantly being used in movies, as samples by new artists and on television commercials. I hear Shout more today than I heard it when we first did it and I didnt know songs like Its Your Thing and That Lady would have legs.

You see, music has been my whole life. I listen to music every single day. Its our way of expressing ourselves, Ron Isley says of himself and his brother Ernie. And with a sumptuous new album in the form of BABY MAKIN MUSIC, The Isley Brothers featuring Ron Isley (aka Mr Biggs) are continuing as the title of their 1996 hit album implies their lifelong mission to please, giving their loyal fans what theyve come to expect from this enduring group while creating classic cuts for a new generation. The Isley Brothers Artistfacts Artistfacts Artistfacts for The Isley Brothers When their father, O'Kelly Sr., met their mother, Sallye, he told her he would marry her and she would bear 4 sons who would become a famous singing group. They ended up having 6 sons. Their father, O'Kelly Sr., predicted that his sons would hit it big but he would not be around to see it. He fulfilled his prophesy by dying of a heart attack in 1956. They developed their sound and stage presence by singing in church.

The 4th Isley son, Vernon, died at 11 when he lost control of his bicycle and slammed into an oncoming truck. The other brothers were devastated and did not work on their music for a year. They formed their own record label, T-neck (named after Teaneck, New Jersey, where they lived), in 1964, but put it aside to sign with Motown a year later. They left Motown after only a year and reformed the T-neck label in 1969. Younger brothers Ernie and Marvin joined in 1969 along with their cousin, Chris Jasper. They became the rhythm section for the older Isleys. In 1984, Ernie, Marvin, and Chris Jasper left to form Isley, Jasper, Isley. Kelly Isley died of heart failure in 1986. Ronald, who sings in a tenor, is lead singer. Everett Collins, Drums and Percussion joined the band after he met Ernie, Chris and Marvin in music composition and band classes at college. He had his own band Sunrize in 1981-1983 which was produced by the Isley Brothers.

(thanks, Ed - riverhead, NY) 21 year-old Jimi Hendrix, known then as Jimmy Hendricks, played on their stage shows in 1964. Youngest brother Marvin lost his legs below the knees to diabetes in 1996. They won a lawsuit from Michael Bolton in 1994 when his "Love Is A Wonderful Thing" was ruled too similar to the Isley's song of the same title. The Isley's were awarded all profits from the single and 28% of album profits. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. The Isleys became the first band to score a Top 50 hit in six consecutive decades on Billboard's Hot 100 when " Contagious " climbed to #19 in 2001. THE CHRIS JASPER INTERVIEW ... Part 1 THE CHRIS JASPER INTERVIEW ... Part 1 Wednesday, 27 February 2013 19:59 Bill B Chris Jasper is the soul fans' soul man.

In the 70s and 80s he was an integral part of the Isley Brothers and of course went on to become one third of Isley-Jasper-Isley. Now running his own label – Gold City Music – he's a respected solo artist and has just released a brand new album - 'Inspired' (see our reviews archive). What better time, then, for SOULJAZZANDFUNK to catch up with him and learn more about 'Inspired' and his award-winning career. In this, the first part of a two part interview with Chris, we go over his time with the Isley Brothers... but first a bit of background.... CHRIS: I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 30, 1951 and became interested in music when I was around 7 years old. I used to listen to different songs on the radio and play them by ear on the piano. I was fortunate to take piano lessons from a professor at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. My mother made that connection for me. She played piano and my uncle was a first violinist for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

In those days I used to listen to songs by Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gaye, and many of the other Motown artists. They were all a big influence on me. You were friendly with members of the Isley family back then weren't you? Yes, the Jasper family and the Isley family lived on the same street in Lincoln Heights, a suburb of Cincinnati. Rudolph, Ronald and O'Kelly were older than I was, so I was more friendly with Marvin and Ernie because we were closer in age. My sister, Elaine, married Rudolph Isley so we became linked by marriage too. Elaine and Rudolph lived in Teaneck, New Jersey and I'd visit in the summers and I even spent my junior year at Teaneck High School. It was during this time that I formed a group with Ernie and Marvin called The Jazzmen Trio. We used to play locally, at high school events and churches, playing a lot of the popular songs that were out at the time. I played piano, Ernie played drums and Marvin played bass. So, from Cincinnati to Teaneck... then on to New York's famous Juilliard Academy... what was it like studying there?

I actually auditioned for Julliard after I graduated from high school in Cincinnati and I majored in music composition. Julliard was a very interesting experience because of all of the talented musicians that went there. But because the composition department was rather strict in that they focused on atonal music, I felt that it was a bit limiting for me. I wanted to compose many other types of music as well. So, while I was at Julliard, I heard that jazz pianist Billy Taylor and composer Raoul Pleskow were teaching courses at Long Island University, C.W. Post campus in Long Island, New York. This seemed like a good opportunity to explore jazz and other types of both classical and contemporary music. So, I took advantage of that and completed my bachelor's degree in music composition there. Take us through that time between graduating and hooking up with the Isley Brothers.... While we were in college, Marvin, Ernie and I were already playing on the recording sessions with the older Isley Brothers. 'The Brothers Isley', 'Givin' It Back,' and 'Brother, Brother, Brother' were some of the recordings we played on. We were about 15, 16 at that time.

I mostly played piano back then. The Isley Brothers of course were a vocal trio at that time. They had their own band leader/arranger and a band at that time. We were new additions to the band at first, but as time went on, we became equal members of the group. The three original brothers were impressed our ability to play our instruments and compose original music. Expanding the line-up, starting their own label (T Neck), changing musical direction (from the smooth Motown sound to a harder hitting funk) and adopting a new look were all major changes – whose idea was that.... The older brothers formed the T-Neck label in 1969 when they were with Buddah Records. At that time, they were still a vocal trio and didn't play instruments or write much original music. Marvin, Ernie and I brought the musical and composition component to the band. It was the older brothers' idea to join the two bands to make one self-contained band. And the new extravagant look – the hippy style clothes and so on....? That was what was happening at the time. It certainly wouldn't be something that would work now, but that was the style then.

In fact, one of my outfits is on display in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. What was it like for you working with such a famous group with a great history...? It was a great experience because a lot of their songs would be played on the radio because they had prior hits, so that was exciting, to hear yourself on the radio. Did Ronnie, Rudolph and O'Kelly allow you to have any major input into their musical direction then? Not at first, I was playing mostly playing piano. But on 'Brother, Brother, Brother', I wrote my first song, which was 'Love Put Me On The Corner.' The more we played, the more input we had. You eventually got to write anthems like 'Fight The Power' and beautiful ballads like 'For The Love Of You' and 'Between The Sheets'... how did you put those things together. Starting with the '3+3' album, Ernie, Marvin and I started to write more original songs. 'Fight The Power', 'For The Love Of You' and 'Between The Sheets' came together in stages, from a basic chord progression and then the melody, and then the lyrics usually came last.

And what do you think of the numerous cover versions there have been of your songs? As far as covers are concerned, I always appreciate when another artist chooses to do another version of a song that I wrote because there are thousands of songs to choose from. Whitney Houston did a great cover of 'For the Love of You'. Talk us through some of the highlights of your time with the Isley Brothers..... To start with, all of the albums from 1973 to 1983 could be called the highlights for me because composing songs and recording new material is the thing I most enjoy about the music business, and most of those albums went gold or platinum. But I guess, as far as touring is concerned, the 1977-1978 tours would stand out because we promoted those tours on our own and they were mostly sell-outs. And, of course, being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 was a major highlight. ... And what about the lows? Any major disappointments? I guess the way the group ended was a big disappointment. The financial inequities were a major factor in the breakup. Tell us about that...

In 1984, the six of us had a meeting. The older Isley Brothers were having money problems and wanted to file for bankruptcy and break the contract with CBS. Marvin, Ernie and I didn't have those same problems and didn't want to file bankruptcy. Because of that disagreement, and other financial inequities, the group had to split up. We stayed with CBS and formed Isley-Jasper-Isley, and recorded our first album, 'Broadway's Closer to Sunset Boulevard'. We were very disappointed when the older Brothers sued the three of us and CBS in an attempt to prevent that album from coming out, but we prevailed and Isley-Jasper-Isley continued recording for CBS. What do you think Chris Jasper brought to the Isley Brothers? The three younger guys brought a new musical direction, and most of the songs were my ideas, including the title tracks to 'Live It Up', 'The Heat Is On', 'Showdown', 'Go For Your Guns', 'Go All The Way', and 'Between The Sheets'. The so-called 'Isley sound' has been attributed to the way I voiced the chords on many of the lush ballads, which a result of my classical were training.

I would use different degrees of the scale that were typical of pieces written in the romantic period by Debussy and Ravel, which gave a different flavour to the music. And, of course, Ernie's guitar playing added another rock texture to the music that wasn't there before. In the second part of this interview Chris will talk about his time with Isley-Jasper-Isley and his successful solo career. Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 February 2013 20:12 History of the Isley Brothers | Mental Itch History of the Isley Brothers Share On: Twitter Introduction The Isley Brothers was formed in 1954, originally as a vocal trio consisting of brothers O’Kelly Jr., Rudolph and Ronald Isley – another brother Vernon joined them shortly before his tragic death from a hit-and-run incident. First signed to RCA in the late 1950s, their trio first charting single was “Shout”, which although not a big hit, has become one of their most classic tunes over time.

Another one of their more well-known originals “Twist and Shout” finally made it to the Top 20 pop chart in 1962 just before the Beatles’ most famous version outsold it. Because of the success of “Twist And Shout” the Brothers were able to establish their own label, but it proved to be short-lived. Then they signed to Motown and next to T-Neck label, the last which they jumpstarted their run of hit singles with “It’s Your Thing” in 1969. Other big hits include “Love The One You’re With”, “Lay Away”, “Pop That Thang”, “Work To Do”, “That Lady”, “What It Comes Down To”, “Summer Breeze”, “Live It Up”, “Midnight Sky”, “Fight The Power”, “Who Loves You Better”, “Harvest For The World”, “The Pride”, “Take Me To The Next Phase”, “I Wanna Be With You”, “Don’t Say Goodnight (It’s Time For Love)”, “Inside You”, “Choosey Lover” and “Between The Sheets”, and so many others – all released on T-Neck label.

During that time, the brothers had transitioned from a vocal act to a full-time self-contained musical group with the addition of younger brothers Ernie and Marvin Isley as well as Rudolph’s brother-in-law Chris Jasper. They have survived not only several personnel shifts but also the musical trends that included the British Invasion and disco. They even made themselves as one of the chief pioneers of a sub-genre called “quiet storm” in the 1980s, and even worked with recent R&B and hip-hop artists into the 1990s. Formation of the Isley Brothers The seeds of the Isley Brothers started in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1954. The first lineup of the group consisted of siblings Ronald, Rudloph, O’Kelly and Vernon Isley, and their initial repertoire consisted of gospel songs. Vernon was the original lead vocalist of the group, until he was killed in a bicycling accident in 1955. Because of Vernon’s untimely death, the devastated Isley Brothers disbanded, but soon got together again when another brother Ronald joined as their tenor vocalist.

In 1957, the Isley Brothers moved to New York where they recorded and released doo-wop singles that failed to make an impact. Later on they were signed to RCA Records, where they eventually released their single “Shout.” The song was conceptualized during their Washington, D.C. gig where the group threw in the line: “You know you make me wanna shout.” Struggles in their early years “Shout” became their first charting single, placing at #47 on the Hot 100, while it never made a dent on the R&B singles charts. The song became very popular and one of the influential American tunes, prompting several covers by other artists such as Lulu and Tommy James and the Shondells. The Beatles had also recorded their own live version (found on their Anthology I album). “Shout” has also been used as commercial jingles as well as for any important events (like weddings). Other than their first hit The Isley Brothers following singles were flops. They eventually parted ways with RCA in 1962.

The group then moved to Wand, where they also issued their sole hit again with the label “Twist and Shout” that same year, reaching #17 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the R&B singles chart. “Twist And Shout” was the brothers’ cover of the Top Notes’ original, and would be covered by other artists as well, with the best-known version being performed by the Beatles. Despite this success, the group fell into familiar territory again, releasing so-so singles. label T-Neck Records in 1964. The Isley Brothers then recruited a young guitarist by the name of Jimmy James to back them up on many of their songs, including the single “Testify.” James later rose to become more known globally as Jimi Hendrix. T-Necks records had Atlantic Records as its distribution arm. However, neither of these efforts proved to be fruitful, and James left the band a year later. In 1965, the group signed the Motown Records’ subsidiary Tamla in 1965.

The group scored another hit with 1966’s “The Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)” which broke into the Top 20 pop chart for the first time at #12. It also landed at #6 on the soul singles chart. But like in their experience with previous labels, success still remained elusive for The Isley Brothers. With the re-release of “The Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You),” it peaked at #3 on the UK singles chart in 1968. Spurred by the success of the song over the British shores, the group flew there in hopes of saving their declining career. Still after a short stint there, they moved back to the States the following year. Upon their return, they left Tamla and went back to revive their own label T-Neck. Finally, success came to the Isley Brothers This time, the gods seemed to smile upon The Isley Brothers. In 1969, their next single released on T-Neck, “It’s Your Thing” was decidedly funk.

It went to #2 on the pop chart – their highest peak by the band ever on the Hot 100 – and #1 on the R&B singles chart. A major success had come to The Isley Brothers at last. Also in 1969, more new members came their way. Younger brothers Ernie and Marvin Isley joined the group, as well as Chris Jasper who was their brother-in-law, and Everett Collins who was a family friend – all served as the group’s back-up musicians. Embracing the disco trend in the 1970s Ushering into the 1970s, the Isley Brothers scored more hits and even embraced the disco trend. Such hits during the decade include: “Pop That Thang,” “That Lady” (at #6 on the pop chart), “Fight the Power (at #4), “Livin’ in the Life,” and others that hit the Top 10 R&B singles chart. In 1975, their album The Heat Is On was their first album to reach the top of the Billboard 200. Into the 1980s, The Isley Brothers still remained popular.

However, Jasper and brothers Ernie and Marvin left in 1984 to form their own group Isley Jasper Isley. Two years later, O’Kelly succumbed to a heart attack. In 1989, Rudolph left the band and retired from the music industry for good to answer another call – being a minister. Revivng the group, and the Isley Brothers today Ronald, Ernie and Marvin Isley revived the group in 1991, releasing another albumMission to Please. However, another blow struck the band when Marvin was suffering diabetes; the condition left him with no choice but to amputate both of his legs. This left Ronald and Ernie to carry on The Isley Brothers name as a duo. In 2001, The Isley duo released Eternal which featured artists such as Jill Scott and Jimmy Jam. The album featured the single “Contagious” which became a Top 20 hit (at #19). Ronald soon had a name of his own as his character Mr. Biggs in R.

Kelly’s music video of the latter’s hit “Down Low (Nobody Has to Know).” In 2003, the duo released another album Body Kiss, which became their second #1 album on the Billboard 200, reaching gold status. 2006’s Baby Makin’ Music also became a Top 10 pop album hit. Ronald Isley was released from prison in 2010 after serving his sentence borne out of his tax evasion charges back in 2006. Tragedy rocked the brothers as Marvin died later that year, from complications brought on by diabetes. It has been an interesting story of The Isley Brothers – from their early struggles to achieve hits – they’re now considered R&B and soul legends, and their legacy will live on. For their inestimable contributions to music, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Useful Isley Brothers links

Question: Brothers O'Kelly, Rudolph, Ernie, and Marvin were founder members of which US group?
Answer: The Isley Brothers